HEALTH AND SAFETY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Health, Safety and Environment has its own terms, acronyms and abbreviations.
In some cases the terms occur in everyday speech but, in Health and Safety, some have different shades of meaning to their common usage.
We have attempted to express our definitions in laymen's terms and therefore should not be assumed to have any legal standing.

Health and Safety Terms
Accident - An undesired event resulting in death, injury, damage to health, damage to property or other form of loss
Abnormal Event - An unplanned, unusual, occurrence or emergency
Absorption - Taking a substance into the body by penetration through intact skin - one of the Routes of Entry
Acute - A rapidly developing effect caused by a single or brief exposure
Adaptation - The limited ability for people to tolerate small departures from optimal conditions (equipment design, environment, etc) without significantly affecting performance, for example _ use of a chair that is a little too high or a little too low
Aerosols - Substance dispersed into the air such that the droplets or particles remain in suspension for a significant period of time
Air Exchange Rate - The rate at which inside air is replaced by outside air. The rate may be expressed as the number of changes of air per unit of time (e.g. Air Changes per Hour - ACH) or the volume of air exchanged per unit of time (e.g. Cubic Feet per minute (CFM)
Allergen - Substance causing an allergic reaction in a person who is sensitive to that substance
Ambient - Surrounding, e.g. Ambient temperature usually means the outside temperature
Anthropometric Dimensions - The dimensions of the human body. These may be static measurements (i.e. when the subject standing or seated) or functional (i.e. when the person assumes an unnatural posture)
Apparent Loudness - Measurement in decibels of sound pressure measured against the threshold of hearing, being 0 decibels. The pain threshold is 120 decibels and an increase of 3 decibels is perceived as doubling in loudness
Appointed Person - A person who has been nominated to take charge in the event of an accident or illness (and support designated first aiders if present) and has been trained in basic lifesaving first aid techniques (See Designated Person)
Approved Code of Practice - A code of practice, associated with specific regulations, that has been approved by the Health & Safety Commission. A Code of Practice is seen as the accepted standard and can be used as evidence in a court of law. It is not mandatory to follow a Code of Practice but, to be acceptable, any alternative must be demonstrated to be of equal measure or better
Asbestos - Hydrated magnesium silicate in fibrous form
Aspiration - The entry of a liquid or solid chemical product into the trachea and lower respiratory system directly through the oral or nasal cavity, or indirectly from vomiting.
Audible Range - Normal hearing frequency, approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Background Level - The normal or typical level of a chemical in the environment, often referring to the naturally occurring level
Best Practice - A standard of risk control that is above the legal minimum (See Good Practice)
Biological Agent - A living organism or something made from a living organism that can be used beneficially (e.g. to prevent or treat disease) or maliciously (e.g. germ warfare)
Boiling Point - Temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas at normal atmospheric pressure
Carcinogen - Substance that is known or suspected of causing cancer
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A chronic disorder of the hand and wrist possibly resulting from repetitive work involving repeated wrist flexion or extension
Catalyst - A substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected by the reaction
Central Nervous System - The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord
Cervical Spine - The uppermost 7 vertebrae of the spine which, being very delicate, is prone to degenerative processes
Chronic - Occurring over an extended period of time
Civil Law - The body of law of a state or nation governing the behaviour of individuals and corporations.
Code of Practice - Rules established by regulatory bodies or trade associations, which are intended as a guide to acceptable behaviour. As such they do not have the force of law behind them
Combustible Liquid - Liquid with a flash point above 37.8 C (100° F)
Common Law - Source of law that is not written in statute, but which has been developed through judicial precedent. A breach of common law could result in a criminal offence or a civil action for damages.
Competent Person - A person who is appropriately trained, qualified, experienced, and skilled to undertake specific health and safety duties without risk to their own safety or that of others
Compliance - The act or process of fulfilling requirements
Compressed Gas - Substance that is a gas at normal pressure and room temperature but is held in a pressurised container resulting in it becoming a liquid
Concentration - The quantity of one substance contained in another substance e.g. the amount of salt dissolve in sea water
Contaminant - Substance - usually undesirable - in another substance, product, or space where it is not normally found, e.g. environmental pollutants
Contrast - The difference in brightness between the subject (e.g. text) and the background against which it is viewed
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - Regulations promoting safe working with potentially hazardous chemicals
Corrosive - Substance that causes destruction of another substance, including human tissue
Cryogenics - Materials that exist at extremely low temperatures, e.g. liquid nitrogen
Cutaneous - Pertaining to or affecting the skin
Dermal - Pertaining to the skin
Designated Person - A person who has been designated as a first aider at work and has been trained to have the knowledge and confidence to deal with any first aid emergency (See Appointed Person)
Display Screen Equipment - Any alphanumeric or graphic display screen regardless of the process employed to display the information. Typical examples include computer monitors and microfilm viewers
Dose - The amount of substance to which a person is exposed in terms of the concentration of the substance and the time period during which the exposure occurs
Employment Medical - Advisory Service Part of the Health and Safety Executive, offering advice on work related health issues and on people with health problems returning to work.
Enforcement notice - a notification to remedy a breach of legislation. A document which is sent to the responsible person from a fire authority stating that the enforcing authority (fire service) is of the opinion that the responsible person or any other person as is applicable has failed to comply with any provision of the Fire Safety Order 2005 or of any regulations made under it.
European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS) - Inventory that lists and defines those chemical substances, which were deemed to be on the European Community market between 1 January 1971 and 18 September 1981."
Ergonomics - The application of information about human characteristics to design applications, e.g. equipment, tools, work tasks, with the aim of improving safety and efficiency
Fatigue - Transient reduced ability to work as a result of previous activity, resulting in reduced efficiency
Fires - Class A - Fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, etc.
Class B - Fires in flammable liquids and liquefiable solids or electrical fires
Class C - Fires involving gases.
Class D - Fires involving combustible metals such as potassium or sodium
Class F - Fires involving cooking oils or fats
Fire Prevention - Precautions designed to avoid an outbreak of fire, reduce the potential for fire to spread and safeguard persons and property in the event of fire
Flammable Gas - Gas that when mixed with air forms a flammable mixture at ambient temperature and pressure
Flammable Liquid - Liquid with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C)
Flammable Solid - Solid that is liable to cause fires through friction, absorption of moisture, etc. or which can be readily ignited
Flash Point - The lowest temperature at which a flame will propagate through the vapour of a combustible material
Freezing Point - Temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid, at normal atmospheric pressure
Glare - When a portion of the visual field has a significantly higher luminance than its surroundings, resulting in reduced contrast
Good Practice - HSE Definition: Those standards for controlling risk which have been judged and recognised by the HSE as satisfying the law when applied to a particular relevant case in an appropriate manner. (See Best Practice)
Guidance - Documents explain in simple terms the main elements of the full guidance to businesses. Enabling them to have a quick overview of the implications for different aspects of regulations/legislation.
Hazard - Potential for harmful effects
H-code - code starting with the letter H and followed by 3 digits designating a hazard statement for Safety Data Compilation
Health and Safety Executive - Organisation responsible for proposing safety regulations throughout the UK. It is responsible for enforcing, statute, regulations, approved codes of practice and guidance.
Illuminance - A measure of the amount of light falling on a particular point, measured in Lux
Improvement Notice - A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute. It states that an offence has been committed, what action needs to be taken, the reason for the action and the time deadline by which it must be taken.
Incident (or Near Miss) - A generic term for those events that do not cause harm, but which might have done so under different circumstances
Indoor environmental quality - refers to the quality of a building’s environment in relation to the health and wellbeing of those who occupy space within it
Ingestion - Taking a substance into the body through the mouth, for example in the form of food or drink - one of the Routes of Entry
Inhalation - Taking a substance, typically in the form of gases, fumes, vapours, mists, aerosols, or dusts, into the body by breathing it in - one of the Routes of Entry
Inhibitor - A substance which, when added to another substance, prevents, or slows down an unwanted change or reaction
Injection - Taking a substance directly into the body by puncturing the skin, for example with a needle - one of the Routes of Entry
Irritant - A substance that produces inflammation when it makes contacts with the skin, eyes, nose, or respiratory system
Latent - A disease or condition lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) - A measure used to control inhalation exposures in the workplace, as it can control the emissions of the contaminant at its source, preventing its dispersion into the work area.
Liquid Petroleum Gas - LPG consists of commercial Butane, Propane, or a mixture of the two. Major hazards are fire and explosion, though asphyxiation is also a danger in low lying areas due to LPG being heavier than air
Lock-Off - Mechanisms that, as part of engineering controls, are designed to prevent potentially dangerous equipment from being energised during routine maintenance and/or repair work
Lumbar Spine - The lower 5 vertebrae of the spine, situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae
Luminance - A measure of the amount of light emitted or reflected by a surface in a given direction
Lux - Unit of measurement of illumination, equivalent to lumen per square
Manual Handling Operations - Tasks that require a person to exert force in order to lift, lower, push, pull, move, carry, hold, or restrain an object
Material Data Safety Sheet - Contain information on the hazards associated with a chemical, along with guidance on its safe use
Mutagen - Something that is able to cause a mutation (or genetic change) in a living cell
Narcotic - A substance that has the potential to affect the nervous system by, for example, inducing drowsiness, stupor, or insensibility
Near Miss - See "Incident"
Negligence - Can be either the omission to do something that a reasonable person would do when guided by those considerations that ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, or the commission of some act that a prudent and reasonable person would not do.
NIOSHTIC-2 - a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.
Occupational Hygiene - uses science and engineering to prevent ill health caused by the environment in which people work. It helps employers and employees to understand the risks and improve working conditions and working practices
Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) - Value set by competent national authorities or other relevant national institutions as the limit for concentrations of hazardous compounds in workplace air
Persistence - Remaining for an extended period of time. Applicable to some chemicals (e.g. DDT) that do not easily break down into less hazardous substances
Parts per Billion - Specifies the concentration by volume of a substance dispersed in another substance
Parts Per Million - Specifies the concentration by volume of a substance dispersed in another substance
Permit to Work - Formally delivered criteria for control/risk reduction when undertaking pre-planned work that is hazardous, either because of its location or the nature of the activity.
Planning Supervisor - Responsible under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations for coordinating the health and safety aspects of the design, preparation of a health and safety plan at the pre-tender stage and preparation of the health and safety file.
Policy - A statement of an organisation _ s strategy for achieving a safe and healthy working environment and the responsibility, organisation, and arrangements for pursuing and implementing the strategy
Precautionary Statements - A phrase that describes recommended measure(s) to minimise or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous substance or mixture due to its use or disposal.
Preventive Maintenance - Maintenance (including inspection, cleaning, and repair) of equipment on a regular basis that is sufficient to prevent unplanned failure
Prohibition Notice - A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute that presents a risk of serious personal accident. The effect of the Prohibition Notice is to stop the activity from starting or to cause it to cease if it has already started.
Qualitative assessment - non-quantitative assessment of risk that includes the description of operational conditions and risk management measures in an exposure scenario. Robust quantitative evidence may be missing for hazard and/or exposure
Quantitative assessment - Quantification of risk based on the ratio between estimated exposure and substance hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Regulation - A statutory device made under a general provision that is contained in an act of parliament. Regulations themselves are approved by parliament and are generally absolute legal standards.
Residual Current Device - An electrical safety device that constantly monitors the electric current flowing through a circuit. If it senses a loss of current where electricity is being diverted to earth (as might happen if a person touches a live conductor), it rapidly shuts down the power.
Relative Humidity - The percentage ratio of vapour pressure in the atmosphere compared to the saturated vapour pressure at that temperature
Risk - A quantifiable expression of the likelihood of injury or harm resulting from a hazard
Risk Assessment - A formal estimation of the likelihood that persons may suffer injury or adverse health effects as a result of identified hazards
Risk Management - The introduction of change or control measures with the intention of eliminating or bringing the level of risk associated with a hazard within acceptable limits
Routes of Entry - The various ways in which toxic substances may enter the body, including; Absorption, Ingestion, Inhalation, Injection, and Eye-splashes
Safe System of Work - A method of working designed to eliminate, if possible, or otherwise reduce risks to health and safety
Safety Committee - A committee that promotes health and safety in the workplace, with members representing employees and management from all sections of an organisation
Safety Culture - A general term for the degree to which the culture of an organisation promotes and cooperates with safe and healthy work practices
Self-Assessment - Assessments performed by individuals (or organizations) to determine how safely they are working and meeting their health & safety responsibilities toward themselves and others
Sensitisation - Development, over time, of an allergic reaction to a substance
Sensitiser - Substance that may cause a person to develop an allergic reaction after repeated exposure
Solubility - Ability of a substance to dissolve in a liquid
Solvent - Substance that is capable of dissolving another substance
S- Phrases - Standard phrases relating to the safe use of the substance. When the current provisions are repealed, and GHS enters into force, the S-phrases will be replaced by ‘precautionary statements’.
Stress - That which might result when an event or situation places increased demand on a person's mental or emotional resources. Sources of stress may arise from domestic or social situations as well as occupational circumstances. The individual's response to such situations can lead to health and safety related problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal disorders and an increased tendency to be accident-prone.
Substances of Very High Concern (SHVC) - Chemical hazards of highest concern (carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity (CMR) and respiratory sensitisers)
Synovial Fluid -A viscous fluid that lubricates joints and tendon sheaths
Tenosynovitis - Inflammation and swelling of the tendon sheaths, usually of the wrist or hand, potentially caused by repetitive movements such as very high-speed typing rates
Thoracic Spine - The mid and upper regions of the back, comprising 12 vertebrae that occupy the same level as the rib cage
Toxic - Substances that cause irritation of are otherwise harmful to health, such as carcinogens and poisons
Toxicity - The potential for a substance to be harmful to health
UN Hazard Codes - Class 1 - Explosive
Class 2 - Gases
Class 3.1 - Flammable liquids, flash point below -18C
Class 3.2 - Flammable liquids, flash point between -18C and 23C
Class 3.3 - Flammable liquids, flash point between 23C and 61C
Class 4.1 - Flammable solids
Class 5.1 - Oxidizing agents
Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides
Class 6.1 - Poisonous substances
Class 7 - Radioactive substances
Class 8 - Corrosive substances
Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances
NR - Non-regulated
Vapour - The gaseous form of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature
Ventilation - Movement of air, usually associated with the introduction of fresh air
Volatility - Ability of a substance to evaporate
Workplace Exposure Limit - Established concentration of a substance that, if not exceeded, will not normally result in adverse effects to persons who are exposed
Workstation - The combination of equipment items that a user requires to fulfil their allotted tasks. In Display Screen Equipment terms, the components might include: desk, chair, computer monitor, keyboard, processing unit and such ancillary equipment as required by the work, such as document holder or telephone.
Wrist Extension & Flexion - Bending movement of hand and wrist from the horizontal (up or down respectively). Causes tendons to curve around structures in the wrist, possibly causing friction, which can in turn result in fatigue or injury
Health and Safety Abbreviations
ACM - Asbestos-containing Material
ACOP - Approved Code Of Practice
ACS - Approved Contractor Scheme
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake
ADR - European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (see RID)
AFAIRP - As Far As Is Reasonably Practicable
AHERA - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
AIB - Asbestos Insulation Board
AIR - Accident Injury Rate
ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALARP - As Low As Reasonably Practicable
ALI - Annual Limit Of Intake
AOR - Artificial optical radiation
APELL - Awareness And Preparedness For Emergencies At Local Level
ARCA - Asbestos Removal Contractors Association
ASLIC - Asbestos (licensing) Regulations
BA - Breathing Apparatus
BEI - Biological Exposure Indices
BEIS - Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
BEL - Biological Exposure Limits
BIS - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
BLEVE - Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion
BMA - British Medical Association
BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society
BPM - Best Practicable Means
BPR - Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012)
BSC - British Safety Council
BSI - British Standards Institute
BSO - Basic Safety Objective
BSS - Basic Safety Standards Directive
BTS - British Toxicology Society
CA - Corrective Action
CA(BA) - Compressed Air (breathing Apparatus)
CAWR - Control Of Asbestos At Work Regulations
CBP - Construction Best Practice
CBI - Confederation of British Industry
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDM - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
CDG - The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations
CE - The letters "CE" do not represent any specific words but the mark is a declaration by the manufacturer, indicating that the product satisfies all relevant European Directives. Note, however, that the mark only applies to products that fall within the scope of European Directives.B41
CET - Corrected Effective Temperature
CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons
CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute. Amount of air flowing through a given space in one minute. One CFM approximately equals Two litres per second (l/s)
CHANs - Chemical Hazard Alert Notices
CHAS - Contractors Health And Safety Assessment Scheme
CHIP - Chemical (hazard Information And Packaging) Regulations
CHSW - Construction (health Safety And Welfare) Regulations
CIEHF - Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors
CIMAH - Control Of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations
CISRS - Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme
CITB - Construction Industry Training Board, also known as ConstructionSkills (sometimes abbreviated as CSkills)
CLAW - Control Of Lead At Work Regulations 1981
CLH - Harmonised classification and labelling
CLP - (Classification, labelling and packaging) Regulation
CMR - Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive toxicity
CNS - Central Nervous System
CO - Carbon Monoxide
COMAH - Control Of Major Accident Hazards
CONIAC - Construction Industry Advisory Committee
COP - Code Of Practice
COSHH - Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations
CPC - Chemical Protective Clothing
CPL - Classification, Packaging And Labelling Of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984
CPCS - Construction Plant Competence Scheme
CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CRMP - Corporate Risk Management Plan
CRT - Cathode Ray Tube
CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme
CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CVD - Cardiovascular Disease
C(WP) - Construction (Work Place) Regulations
DART - Days Away, Restricted or Transferred
dB - Decibels
dB(A) - Decibels On The A Weighted Scale
DBA - Design Basis Accident
DDA - Disability Discrimination Act
DECC - Department of Energy and Climate Change
DFM - Dust, Fume And Mist
DH - Duty Holder
DO - Dangerous Occurrence
DSAC - Design Safety Analysis And Control
DSC - Design Safety Case
DSE - Display Screen Equipment
DSEAR - Dangerous Substances And Explosives Atmospheres Regulations
DSHA Regs - Dangerous Substances In Harbours And Harbour Areas Regulations
EA - Environmental Agency
EAE - Evidence Analysis And Evaluation
EAWR - Electricity at Work Regulations
ECHA - European Chemicals Agency
ECL - Exposure Control Limit
EECS - Electrical Equipment Certification Service
EEL - Emergency Exposure Limit
EER - Emergency Evacuation And Rescue
EERA - Evacuation, Escape And Rescue Assessment
EHSR - Essential Health And Safety Requirement
EHO - Environmental Health Officer
EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment
ELCI - Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance
EMAS - Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
EMAS - Employment Medical Advisory Service
EMR - Electromagnetic Radiation or Emergency Response
"EINECS -
European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances"
EPA - Environmental Protection Act
EPS - Enforcement Policy Statement
ERL - Emergency Reference Level
FA - Factories Act
FAAM - Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management
FC(SP)R - Fire Certificate (special Premises) Regulations 1977
FH(G) - Food Hygiene (General) Regulations
FIA - Fire Industry Association
Fit3 - Fit For Work, Fit For Life, Fit For Tomorrow
FLP - Flameproof
FLT - Fork Lift Truck
FOH - Faculty of Occupational Hygiene
FOM - Faculty of Medicine
FOPS - Falling Object Protective Structure(s)
FP(W)R - Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1998
FPA - Fire Precautions Act
FPA71 - Fire Precautions Act 1971
GDPR - General Data Protection Regulations
GFP - General Fire Precautions
GHGB - Good Health Is Good Business
GHS - Global Harmonised System
GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding
GMC - General Medical Council
GN:CS - Guidance Note : Chemical Safety
GN:EH - Guidance Note : Environmental Health
GN:GS - Guidance Note : General Series
GN:MS - Guidance Note : Medical Series
GN:PM - Guidance Note : Plant And Machinery
GP - General Practitioner
HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
HASAC - Health and Safety Advice Centre
HASAWA - Health And Safety At Work Act 1975
HAV - Hand-arm Vibration
HAZAN - Hazard Analysis Numerical Methods
HAZCHEM - Hazardous Chemical Warning Signs
HAZCOM - Hazards Communication Standard
HAZOP - Hazard And Operability Study
HFL - Human Factors (also known as Human Performance or Behavioural Safety)
HFL - Highly Flammable Liquid
HI - Hazardous Installation
HIA - Health Impact Assessment
HPD - Hearing Protection Devices
HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HPM - Hazardous Production Materials
HR - Human Resources
HRR - Health Risk Review
H&S - Health & Safety
HSC - Health and Safety Commission
HSCER - Health And Safety (consultation With Employers) Regulations
HSDSER - Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations
HSE - Health And Safety Executive
HSG - Health And Safety Guidance Booklet
HSL - Health and Safety Laboratory
HSW Act - Health And Safety At Work etc Act 1975
HT - Hazard Type
HVAC - Heating, Ventilating And Air Conditioning
HWE - Healthy Worker Effect
HzSC - Hazardous Substances Consent
ICOH - International Commission on Occupational Health
IDLH - Immediately Dangerous To Life Or Health
IEQ - Indoor environmental quality
IFSM - Institute of Fire Safety Managers
IN - Improvement Notice
IOD - Institute of Directors
IOH - Institute of Occupational Hygienists
IOM - Institute Of Medicine
IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
IP - Injured Person
IPC - Integrated Pollution Control
"IPPC -
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control "
IRLR - Industrial Relations Law Report
IRM - Institute of Risk Management
IRSM - International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
IS - Intrinsic Safety
IS - Intrinsically Safe
ISO - International Organization for Standardization
ISO:14001 - International Standard for Environmental Management Systems
ISO:45001 - International Standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
IT - Industrial Tribunal
IT - Information Technology
IUCLID - International Uniform Chemical Information Database
LEL - Lower Exposure Limit
LEV - Local Exhaust Ventilation
LOLER - Lifting Operations And Lifting Equipment Regulations
LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas
LTA - Lost Time Accident
LTI - Lost Time Incident
LTSRs - Long Term Safety Reviews
LTV - Lock, Tag, Verify
LWD - Lost Work Day
LWDR - Lost Work Day Rate
MAPP - Major Accident Prevention Policy
MCG - Major Contractors Group
MEL - Maximum Exposure Limit
MEWP - Mobile Elevating Work Platform
MH - Major Hazards/Manual Handling
MHIDAS - Major Hazards Incident Data Service
MHLWP - Major Hazards Legislation Working Party
MHOR - Manual Handling Operations Regulations
MHSP - Major Hazards Strategic Programme
MHSWR - Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations
MI - Mandatory Investigation
MIIB - Major Incident Investigation Board
MR - Mandatory Reporting
MS - Method Statement
MSD - Musculoskeletal Disorder
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet(s)
MT - Medical Treatment
NADOR - Notification Of Accidents And Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
NAWR - Control of Noise at Work Regulations
NC - Non-conformance
NEBOSH - The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
NHS - National Health Service
NIHL - Noise Induced Hearing Loss
NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NORA - National Occupational Research Agenda
NSI - National Security Inspectorate
NVQ - National Vocational Qualification
OEL - Occupational Exposure Limit
OH - Occupational Health
OHAC - Occupational Health Advisory Committee of The Health & Safety Commission
OHA - Occupational Health Advisor
OHNA - Occupational Health Nurse Advisor
OHN - Occupational Health Nurse
OHP - Occupational Health Physician
OPL - One Point Lesson
OSH - Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSRPA - Offices Shops & Railway Premises Act
PACT - The Public Activities Coordination Tool
PAT - Portable Appliance Test
PCAW - Public Concern At Work
PCBs - Polychlorinated biphenyl (found in electrical transformers as dielectric and coolant fluids in electrical apparatus)
PCSR - Pre-construction Safety Report
PED - Pressure Equipment Directive (Directive 97/23/EC)
PEEP - Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
PER - Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2001)
PFEER - Prevention Of Fire Explosion And Emergency Response Regulations
PFP - Process Fire Precautions
PHSA - Planning (hazardous Substances) Act 1990
PIC - Prior Informed Consent Regulation (PIC, Regulation (EU) 649/2012)
PII - Professional Indemnity Insurance
PN - Prohibition Notice
POOSH - Professional Organisations In Occupational Health And Safety
POPMAR - Policy, Organising, Planning And Implementing, Measuring, Auditing And Reviewing
PoW - Plan Of Work
Ppb - Parts Per Billion
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
PPEWR - Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
Ppm - Parts Per Million
PRA - Probabilistic Risk Analysis
PRA - Probabilistic Risk Assessment
PSAR - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report
PSI - Principal Specialist Inspector
PSSR - Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
PTW - Permit To Work
PUWER - Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations
PWP - Personal Work Plan
QA/QC - Quality Assurance/Quality Contro
QC - Quality Control
QMS - Quality Management Systems
RAC - ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment
RAMS - Risk Assessment Method Statement
RASWA - Road and Street Works Act.
RCD - Residual Current Device
REACH - Registration Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals
REGS - Regulations
REL - Recommended Exposure Limit
RID - European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (see ADR)
RIDDOR - Reporting Of Injuries, Diseases And Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
RISKAT - Risk Assessment Tool
RITA - Record of In-Training Assessment
RoR - Review Of Regulation
ROSPA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
RRO - Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO)
RPE - Respiratory Protective Equipment
RSA - Regional Specialty Adviser
RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury
RSP - Relevant Statutory Provision
RTW - Return to Work
SACA - Systemic Accident Cause Analysis
SBS - Sick Building Syndrome
SC - Safety Case
SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCHAM - Safety Case Handling And Assessment Manual
SCMST - Safety Case Management Support Team
SCR - Safety Case Regulations
SCS - Safety Case (it) Systems
SDS - Safety Data Sheet
SFA - Senior First Aid
SFAIRP - So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable
SHAD - Safety Health And Awareness Day
SHE - Safety Health and Environment
SHMP - Safety & Health Management Plan (action plan to implement SHMS)
SHMS - Safety & Health Management System
SIB - Safety Information Bulletin (dh)
SIFR - Serious Injury Frequency Rate
SIP - Site Inspection Programme
SIR - Specialist Inspection Report
SIT - Safety Improvement Team
SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic And Timebound
SMDP - Senior Management Development Programme
SME - Small And Medium-sized Enterprises
SMP - Safety management Plan
SMS - Safety Management System
SMSTS - Site Management Safety Training Scheme
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
SOPs - Standard Operating Procedures
SPL - Single Point Lesson
SPV - Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991
SPVD - Simple Pressure Vessels Directive (Directive 87/404/EEC)
SRI - Safety Related Instrumentation
SRO - Statutory Regulation Order
SSHR - Site Safety & Health Representative
SSOP - Safe Standard Operating Procedure
STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit
STOT - Specific Target Organ Toxicity
SVHC - Substances of Very High Concern
SWI - Safe (or Standard) Work Instruction – short summary of the SOP, usually one page, listing risks and risk controls.
SWL - Safe Working Load
SWMS - Safe Work Method Statement
SWP - Safe Work Procedures, Safe Work Platform, Safe Working Practice
T - Toxic
TBT - Tool Box Talk
TR - Total Recordable
TRR - Total Recordable Rate
TUC - Trades Union Congress
UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service
UKATA - United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association
VAWR - Vibration at Work Regulations
VDU - Visual Display Unit
VWF - Vibration White Finger
WAHR - Work at Height Regulations
WBGT - Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer
W@H - Work at Heights
WAH - Work at Heights
WBV - Whole Body Vibration
WEC - Work of Engineering Construction
WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations
WEG - Working Exposure Guidelines
WEL - Workplace Exposure Limit
WHO - World Health Organisation
WHS - Workplace Health and Safety
WHSO - Workplace Health and Safety Officer
WHSWR - Workplace (Health Safety & Welfare) Regulations
WI - Work Instruction
WICS - Work in Confined Space
WMS - Work Method Statement
WRULD - Work related Upper Limb Disorder
XI - Irritant
